Inspiration for a large arts and crafts two-storey blue house exterior in Chicago with a gable roof, a shingle roof, wood siding, board and batten siding and clapboard siding.

Point Loma Addition Remodel

Lars Remodeling & Design

The goal for this Point Loma home was to transform it from the adorable beach bungalow it already was by expanding its footprint and giving it distinctive Craftsman characteristics while achieving a comfortable, modern aesthetic inside that perfectly caters to the active young family who lives here. By extending and reconfiguring the front portion of the home, we were able to not only add significant square footage, but create much needed usable space for a home office and comfortable family living room that flows directly into a large, open plan kitchen and dining area. A custom built-in entertainment center accented with shiplap is the focal point for the living room and the light color of the walls are perfect with the natural light that floods the space, courtesy of strategically placed windows and skylights. The kitchen was redone to feel modern and accommodate the homeowners busy lifestyle and love of entertaining. Beautiful white kitchen cabinetry sets the stage for a large island that packs a pop of color in a gorgeous teal hue. A Sub-Zero classic side by side refrigerator and Jenn-Air cooktop, steam oven, and wall oven provide the power in this kitchen while a white subway tile backsplash in a sophisticated herringbone pattern, gold pulls and stunning pendant lighting add the perfect design details. Another great addition to this project is the use of space to create separate wine and coffee bars on either side of the doorway. A large wine refrigerator is offset by beautiful natural wood floating shelves to store wine glasses and house a healthy Bourbon collection. The coffee bar is the perfect first top in the morning with a coffee maker and floating shelves to store coffee and cups. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring was selected for use throughout the home, offering the warm feel of hardwood, with the benefits of being waterproof and nearly indestructible - two key factors with young kids! For the exterior of the home, it was important to capture classic Craftsman elements including the post and rock detail, wood siding, eves, and trimming around windows and doors. We think the porch is one of the cutest in San Diego and the custom wood door truly ties the look and feel of this beautiful home together.

Brickyard Plantation Residence

Spivey Architects, Inc.

Newport653
This is an example of a large traditional two-storey white house exterior in Charleston with wood siding and a mixed roof.

The Maple– Exterior

Biringer Builders, Inc.

Photo of a country two-storey white exterior in Richmond with wood siding and a gable roof.

Modern Farmhouse

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Board and batten are combined with natural cedar shingles and a metal roof to create a simply elegant and easy to maintain exterior on this Guilford, CT modern farmhouse.

Royal River Home + Studio

BRIBURN – Architecture for Life

Irvin Serrano
This is an example of a large contemporary one-storey brown house exterior in Portland Maine with wood siding.

Snowcrest

Studio Architects

green design, hilltop, metal roof, mountains, old west, private, ranch, reclaimed wood trusses, timber frame
This is an example of a mid-sized country one-storey brown exterior in Other with wood siding.

Historic Replica Colonial

The McKernon Group

A beautiful historic Colonial replica. It looks like it has been sitting on this hilltop for hundreds of years, even though it's only been a few. It has all the details of it's era with the energy efficiency available today.

Urban Four-Square

Moore Architects, PC

While cleaning out the attic of this recently purchased Arlington farmhouse, an amazing view was discovered: the Washington Monument was visible on the horizon. The architect and owner agreed that this was a serendipitous opportunity. A badly needed renovation and addition of this residence was organized around a grand gesture reinforcing this view shed. A glassy “look out room” caps a new tower element added to the left side of the house and reveals distant views east over the Rosslyn business district and beyond to the National Mall. A two-story addition, containing a new kitchen and master suite, was placed in the rear yard, where a crumbling former porch and oddly shaped closet addition was removed. The new work defers to the original structure, stepping back to maintain a reading of the historic house. The dwelling was completely restored and repaired, maintaining existing room proportions as much as possible, while opening up views and adding larger windows. A small mudroom appendage engages the landscape and helps to create an outdoor room at the rear of the property. It also provides a secondary entrance to the house from the detached garage. Internally, there is a seamless transition between old and new. Photos: Hoachlander Davis Photography

Poplar Cottage - BarkHouse Shingle Siding and Reclaimed Barnwood Siding

Christopher Kellie Design Inc.

The Farm at Banner Elk - Banner Elk, North Carolina. Photo by Todd Bush.
Inspiration for a country exterior in Charlotte with wood siding.

Venice Beach Oasis

Spatial Affairs Bureau

Craftsman renovation and extension
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey blue exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding, a clipped gable roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Strathisla

Fiddes Architects

The main body of the house, running east / west with a 40 degree roof pitch, roof windows and dormers makes up the primary accommodation with a 1 & 3/4 storey massing. The garage and rear lounge create an additional wrap around form on the north east corner while the living room forms a gabled extrusion on the south face of the main body. The living area takes advantage of sunlight throughout the day thanks to a large glazed gable. This gable, along with other windows, allow light to penetrate deep into the plan throughout the year, particularly in the winter months when natural daylight is limited. Materials are used to purposely break up the elevations and emphasise changes in use or projections from the main, white house facade. The large projections accommodating the garage and open plan living area are wrapped in Quartz Grey Zinc Standing Seam roofing and cladding which continues to wrap around the rear corner extrusion off the main building. Vertical larch cladding with mid grey vacuum coating is used to differentiate smaller projections from the main form. The principal entrance, dormers and the external wall to the rear lounge provide a contrasting break in materials between the extruded forms and the different purpose of the spaces within.

Mid-Century Modern Beach House Renovation

GARC Design

The previously modest entry is now highlighted by an enlarged entry door with exterior lights and a wide stepping stone path. New window openings were delicately created to provide a dynamic composition.

Sand Hill Cove Cottage

Lisa Carlisle Architect

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style one-storey grey house exterior in Providence with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof and shingle siding.

Leonhard Residence

Geoff Chick & Associates

Large beach style grey house exterior in Other with four or more storeys, wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Sherman Oaks Home

LRWoehler & Associates

Photo of a large country two-storey white house exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Hamptons House @ Mona Vale

StepUP Constructions

Design ideas for a large beach style two-storey grey house exterior in Sydney with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Sand Section, Manhattan Beach CA

Eden LA Furniture and Interiors

When one thing leads to another...and another...and another... This fun family of 5 humans and one pup enlisted us to do a simple living room/dining room upgrade. Those led to updating the kitchen with some simple upgrades. (Thanks to Superior Tile and Stone) And that led to a total primary suite gut and renovation (Thanks to Verity Kitchens and Baths). When we were done, they sold their now perfect home and upgraded to the Beach Modern one a few galleries back. They might win the award for best Before/After pics in both projects! We love working with them and are happy to call them our friends. Design by Eden LA Interiors Photo by Kim Pritchard Photography

2019 Clive Project

Teal Creek Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized country one-storey white house exterior in Other with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Rustic Barndominium

Bridger Steel, Inc.

This beautiful barndominium features our A606 Weathering Steel Corrugated Metal Roof.
Inspiration for a country house exterior in Other with wood siding and a metal roof.

Exterior Design Ideas with Wood Siding

The front exterior of your home – the driveway, front yard, verandah and entrance – is a fantastic place to start making that all-important first impression on house guests. Even mailboxes and house numbers can have a wonderful way of grabbing people’s attention. The architectural design should reflect the overall style of your house and the family that live there; while your choice of materials will help your house blend in with its surrounds. Browse the photos on Houzz for ideas and inspiration for the exterior of your house, and strike up a conversation with the architects and designers of your favourite picks. You’ll find house designs for contemporary, eclectic, modern, traditional styles and more.

How do I decide on the exterior style of my home?

Your location, overall sense of style, budget and current home layout will dictate the style of your exterior. If you’re renovating a period home, the materials and features you use should reflect the date in which it was built, while a unique colour scheme could add contemporary flair. New homes may prefer to look to modern or contemporary designs with structural simplicity, whereas, if you live by the ocean, a beach-style design may better suit your locale. That’s not to say you can’t build a new home that has period influences. If you’re a traditionalist, you can borrow architectural details from the Art Deco period, for instance, or use finishes that reflect more of a Scandinavian style, too.

What exterior house colours and materials should I use?

Traditional homes typically use brick and timber building materials, while stone, board-formed concrete and metal cladding are popular contemporary options. Again, the materials you use will depend on your location and the statement you want to make. Your budget will also affect your choice. Vinyl siding is affordable and easy to install, while stone is more expensive but durable and low maintenance. If you’re not ready to renovate but want to update the exterior of your home, you can still paint it. Look to your neighbours when choosing exterior house colours. Consider the streetscape and what type of colours are already in use, firstly, so you don’t replicate next door’s shade; and secondly, so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb. If you’re renovating a period home, you could paint features or intricate details in a bold, standout hue. Front doors, garage doors and window trims also look great in eye-catching colours, even if the rest of the house’s facade is neutral.

How can I maximise my home’s street appeal?

To spice up your home’s architectural design, landscape the surrounding area with plants and pathways that accent the style of your home. If you just need a quick revamp, look at your cement and pavers – these can split and crack over time; and repairing or replacing them can do wonders for your street appeal, especially if it’s a large area like your driveway. Plants, garden paths or low walls can can also add structure to your front yard. Light up your home with sufficient outdoor lighting to make walking up to the front door easy at night. You could use bollard lights along your entry path, or replace tiny wall sconces with statement pendant lighting at the entrance or on your verandah. Decorative elements such as house numbers, mailboxes and doormats will also add character. And if you're looking to sell your house, it may be worth hiring a stylist to help make the most of your property.